Fall referendum to decide whether Albertans want a vote on separatism

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Poilievre says Conservatives will campaign for Albertans to stay 'part of the Canadian family'

Smith strikes conciliatory tone on Alberta separatism

Stay Free Alberta appeals court decision on separation petition

Judge releases decision on First Nations' fight against Alberta separation referendum

Alberta separatist group says more than 300K signed petition

Leader of 'Forever Canadian' petition accuses UCP of delaying democracy

It's been an unprecedented day in Alberta politics.

This afternoon, after a testy meeting, a provincial legislative committee voted to send a pro-Confederation petition to the cabinet and recommended that a referendum take place. 

Then, this evening, Premier Danielle Smith announced a referendum question concerning Alberta's place in Canada.

That question again in full: "Should Alberta remain a province of Canada or should the Government of Alberta commence the legal process required under the Canadian Constitution to hold a binding provincial referendum on whether or not Alberta should separate from Canada?"

The referendum, slated for Oct. 19, will be part of a ballot that already has nine questions related to immigration and other constitutional issues.

Jeffrey Rath, the lawyer who supports the Stay Free Alberta petition, took to social media to respond to Smith's address.

Rath posted on X that Smith had dealt a referendum question "from the bottom of the deck" that disregards the more than 301,000 signatories of the pro-separation petition.

"Danielle Smith just lost her base," he said in all capital letters.

In Edmonton's west end this evening, Thomas Lukaszuk, who led the Forever Canadian petition, called for a clean campaign — and, ultimately, unity.

"This is a very emotional issue, and this is not an issue for the premier — or anybody — to play with," Lukaszuk told reporters after Smith’s address.

"Now, we will have a six-month campaign that will be very divisive, very aggravating, to have another referendum."

He called on all sides to stick together no matter what, because regardless of the referendum's outcome, the people of Alberta will have to co-exist afterward.

Shortly after Smith’s address began, the Opposition NDP issued a statement announcing a news conference for tomorrow morning.

Party Leader Naheed Nenshi is scheduled to speak with reporters at Confederation Park, in Calgary, at 11 a.m. MT, about the referendum question Smith announced tonight.

Smith, meanwhile, is slated to hold a news conference in Calgary tomorrow afternoon.

Earlier, the Confederacy of Treaty No. 6 First Nations condemned adding a question about staying in Canada to the Oct. 19 ballot.

In a statement this afternoon, the confederacy said moving forward on this path "confirms Albertans are living under a separatist regime."

"Any effort to separate, including any form of referendum, is a breach of the Treaty relationship established through Treaty No. 6 and protected under the Constitution."

Two Court of King's Bench judges, in cases related to the pro-separation citizen-initiated petition, have found that separation would violate treaty rights with Canada's Indigenous peoples.

The confederacy is calling on the federal government to "step up and fulfil its duty to protect Treaty rights, the rule of law and the Constitution."

Alberta premier tells separatists that they're better off in Canada

In an address to the province on Thursday evening, Danielle Smith appealed directly to the province’s separatists: 'Now is not the time to give up hope in our country.'

Smith concluded her 15-minute speech on the same point that she started: she and her government want Alberta to remain a part of Canada, and hope Albertans will vote to keep it that way. 

"In my view, now is not the time to give up hope in our country. Not when we have fought so hard, for so long, and come so far," she said. 

"I believe Canada can still work. I believe it's working better every day, and it can work even better in the future if we keep fighting together for it."

Earlier during her speech, Smith empathized with frustrated Albertans who believe separation is the answer. But she asked those Albertans to "not give up on our beautiful country, just as we’re gaining respect and the tide has turned in our favour."

Smith said Alberta has “started to win” at bringing the federal government on board with the province’s economic goals.

Public opinion across the country about resource development, provincial rights and energy policy has changed over the last two years, she said.

“Our Alberta oilsands went from a national target to a national treasure,” she said. “Pipelines went from impossible to a national imperative.”

Smith claimed Prime Minister Mark Carney has adopted most of Alberta’s positions on energy and resource development since he was elected more than a year ago.

She referred to a series of agreements between the Alberta and federal governments that would exchange support for a new oil pipeline from Alberta to the west coast for some environmental concessions.

Environmentalists are so far underwhelmed with those concessions. An October poll suggested most Canadians are in favour of such a pipeline project, but wouldn't necessarily support rushing its construction.

Expanded pipeline capacity to ship crude oil to the west coast could allow Canada to increase oil exports to Asia, leaving Alberta — and the country —- less reliant on the U.S. As a trading partner.

Though she stressed she would vote to keep Alberta in Canada, Smith argued the federal government has sought to take over more areas of provincial jurisdiction and "move toward a more centralized American-style system." 

"I categorically reject Ottawa’s attempts to do so, and call on all provincial leaders and MPs to undo the extensive damage that centralization of power in Ottawa has done to our country economically and with respect to national unity.

She said her government has fought to "take back our provincial autonomy from the federal government" and will continue to do so.

Smith has announced Albertans will vote in a referendum about whether or not to have a separation referendum.

In her address to the province, Smith said asking Albertans to vote on whether they want to have a binding separation referendum, shouldn't run afoul of the recent court ruling that invalidated a citizen-led petition for an independence referendum question.

The question Albertans will be asked in the upcoming referendum is: “Should Alberta remain a province of Canada or should the Government of Alberta commence the legal process required under the Canadian Constitution to hold a binding provincial referendum on whether or not Alberta should separate from Canada?”

Smith has scheduled a provincial referendum for Oct. 19. Nine other questions about on immigration policy and constitutional issues were already on the ballot.

Smith's address is underway.

As she began, said she will vote in favour of Alberta remaining a part of Canada in the referendum question she is adding to the Oct. 19 ballots.

However, she said she will continue to press Ottawa to “restore and strengthen” provincial constitutional rights.

“Over time, our federal government has sought to move toward a more centralized American-style system, with Ottawa attempting to take over many provincial areas of jurisdiction using all manner of legislative, judicial and financial leverage,” she said in her video address.

“I categorically reject Ottawa’s attempts to do so, and call on all provincial leaders and MPs to undo the extensive damage that centralization of power in Ottawa has done to our country economically and with respect to national unity.”

Smith said Albertans must be empowered to control their province’s destiny.

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